12 Megatrends

The following are twelve megatrends that we think are key to understanding the future. Each SE Club will determine the interactive impact of these megatrends and others that will form an emergent context for our 21st century societies. Contact Rick Smyre at rlsmyre@aol.com if you would like to have the material that is provided for each SE Club to begin an initial dialogue.

Megatrend 1

Oil Production will peak within ten to thirty years, requiring a shift to complete new energy methods.

Megatrend 2

The limits to traditional representative democracy are appearing because of the increasingly complexity of society, the overwhelming amount of information of real time media, and need for big money to be reelected.

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Megatrend 3

The increasing symptoms of global warming are becoming obvious in many different ways.

Megatrend 4

Unknown viruses and resistant bacteria are emerging that are untouched by existing medicines.

Megatrend 5

Conflict between the trends of aging in the developed world and the increasing numbers of youth in the developing world creates an economic and social time bomb.

Megatrend 6

There is an ongoing severe reduction in biodiversity throughout the world.

Megatrend 7

We are approaching a moment of "technological singularity"when runaway advances outstrip human comprehension and all our knowledge and experience becomes useless as a guidepost to the future.

Megatrend 8

The future vitality and sustainability of the economy and society will be dependent on the ability of leadership to develop cognitive complexity and continuous innovation in the capacities of the citizens.

Megatrend 9

There will be an increasing clash of civilizations and rise of terrorism.

Megatrend 10

There are three economies in churn at the same time:

a) Last stages of the Industrial Economy
b) Twenty year transition stage called the Creative Knowledge Economy.
c) The early stages of a Web/Networked Economy

Megatrend 11

National borders increasingly will be seamless.

Megatrend 12

Artificial intelligence is emerging which, when combined with biotechnology and nanotechnology, may very well transform the concept of what it means to be human.